Changes in granulocyte-macrophage colony formation in relation to chemotherapy and clinical progress in acute myeloblastic leukaemia patients

To investigate the correlation between granulocyte-macrophage colony format ion and the prognosis of acute myelocytic leukaemia, an in vitro colony for mation assay using a practical method was performed at diagnosis in 50 pati ents newly diagnosed with acute myelocytic leukaemia. Granulocyte-macrophag e colony counts were significantly lower in acute myelocytic leukaemia pati ents than in the control group (n = 5). The diminished colony formation was restored to within the normal range in 15 patients after complete remissio n was achieved. In eight patients, serial evaluation of granulocyte-macroph age colony formation was performed, and suppression of colony formation was observed at relapse. The comparison of granulocyte-macrophage colony count s at diagnosis between a group of patients with complete remission (n = 26) and a group of treatment failure cases (n = 24) revealed a significant dif ference suggesting that high counts of granulocyte-macrophage colony format ion are predictive of a favourable prognosis for acute myelocytic leukaemia .